Baby Review: An Astute Portrait of Queer Brazilian Survivors Adrift in the System
Evoking the city's relentless energy and vibrancy of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's bracing drama focuses on those who live on the fringes of an constantly evolving metropolis. Newly freed from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) finds himself at a crossroads; left behind by his parents, the innocent young man finds solace in the arms of others.
On an night on the town with his boisterous group of gay and non-binary friends, Wellington meets Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a strapping, magnetic hustler more than twice his age. Illuminated by the flickering glow of a neon-lit porn cinema, their first meeting is physical and passionate, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo promptly ushers Wellington to the clandestine realm of prostitution and narcotics trafficking.
A Study of Understanding Rather Than Sensationalism
The film illustrates Wellington’s new life of crime with tender empathy instead of as a sensationalist cautionary tale. Now using the alias Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with brash fearlessness and poignant gullibility. To his customers, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness.
In the feverish excitement of São Paulo, overflowing with busy lanes and vibrant storefronts, there’s a persistent isolation, as rootless people grasp at one another for momentary bliss.
"The urban landscape are filled with danger, yet they are also the space where they can forge familial bonds, too."
A Complicated Dynamic of Affection and Power
Ronaldo is simultaneously a partner and a guardian-like mentor to Wellington, but their relationship is derailed by jealousy and monetary insecurity. Threats from shady figures in the shadow economy pale in comparison to the fear of government monitoring and jail time, epitomized by the constant sight of police officers making their rounds.
Baby is especially potent as a perceptive study of the disenfranchised individuals who have fallen through the cracks the established structure. The film functions as a heartfelt look into making ends meet, non-biological kinship, and the search for identity within a harsh urban landscape.
